Nikki Prasad Shines in Debut Match, Leads India to Victory Against Zimbabwe

Raipur, October 17 (Daily Kiran) : Nikki Prasad made a remarkable entry into international cricket, scoring an unbeaten 39 runs to help India clinch a victory against Zimbabwe. This moment was particularly special for her, as she contributed significantly during the first match of the Women’s T20 series.

In a challenging game held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, India faced early setbacks, losing four wickets for just 19 runs while chasing a target of 115. However, Prasad, along with Deepti Sharma, turned the tide, forming a crucial partnership that led to a four-wicket win for the ‘Women in Blue’.

After the match, Prasad expressed her pride in representing India for the first time and finishing the game with a winning boundary. In a video shared by the BCCI on social media, she stated, “It feels amazing. Playing my first match for India is a matter of great pride. Scoring the winning runs adds another layer of pride.”

Entering the crease at a critical moment, the young player focused on maintaining her composure rather than rushing to score. She explained, “I have played in such situations for a long time, so I was quite calm inside. My goal was to build a good partnership with the other batter to keep the runs flowing.”

The 20-year-old attributed her success to Deepti Sharma’s aggressive batting style, saying, “You (Deepti) played exceptionally well in this innings. Watching you made me feel confident enough to take a few risks and hit a couple of boundaries. Your aggressive play during our partnership gave me confidence to stay at the crease.”

Prasad also acknowledged the role of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and other domestic tournaments in preparing her for the challenges of international cricket. She noted, “Playing in the WPL and other major platforms has helped me significantly. I’ve been in pressure situations before and learned from my mistakes. Therefore, I didn’t feel as much pressure coming here, thanks to the WPL and other tournaments organized by the BCCI. I’ve had a great platform over the last two years.”